Cape Fear QDMA, NCSU, WRC Offer Deer Workshop

The Cape Fear River Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association is teaming with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and a North Carolina State University Master Gardener/ Park Naturalist to conduct a free 2.5-hour wildlife management workshop May 28 from 6-8 p.m. at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's headquarters at the NCSU Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh.

Attendance is free, and select continuing education credits will be available. Students, forestry professionals, wildlife/environmental professionals, land managers, and homeowners will all benefit from this program.

Objective
This workshop will feature in-depth discussion about the problems that result when the numbers of deer in a community exceed habitat carrying capacity; and discuss possible solutions that might be employed. Registrants will receive research-based information via presentations and handouts that should assist them in sorting through the pool of media propaganda on deer.

Topics
* Quality Deer Management Association's Richard Vitek will offer both a historical perspective and current strategies that other communities have implemented.

* WRC District 3 Biologist Joe Folta will discuss how the NC Wildlife Resource Commission evaluates impact of the growing deer herds in North Carolina and how NCWRC is addressing these issues; and

This workshop will utilize materials from the Living with White-tailed Deer program, which is correlated to the National Science Education Standards. The program is a winner of the international "The Wildlife Society's Conservation Education Award" and the national "Outdoor Writers Association of America's Golden Eco Award", annually given to the top conservation-education production. The National Science Teacher's Association also has recommended the "Living with White-tailed Deer" program.

Who Should Attend?
This material will enhance any biology, wildlife or environmental science class and the skills and knowledge of forestry professionals, wildlife/environmental specialists, land managers and homeowners.

Continuing Education
* 2.5 Criteria III in the North Carolina EE Certification Program credits have been approved.

* Two (2) Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits have been requested from the Society of American Foresters.